Why do people live in Australia? - Think Atheist2018-05-24T18:14:57Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/why-do-people-live-in-australia?commentId=1982180%3AComment%3A1368478&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi, this has gone off directi…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13695612013-08-29T17:10:06.252ZNorm Kellerhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/NormKeller
<p>Hi, this has gone off direction which is my fault because I was not clear enough as to context. In an well regulated system there must be checks and balances, of course, and those we have in Canada. There are reported to be similar systems in most of the industrialized world.</p>
<p>My main point was that, IMO, we are doing much damage to society by the ad hoc demonization of politicians, civil servants, and anyone not of our own group.</p>
<p>We complain continually about government and…</p>
<p>Hi, this has gone off direction which is my fault because I was not clear enough as to context. In an well regulated system there must be checks and balances, of course, and those we have in Canada. There are reported to be similar systems in most of the industrialized world.</p>
<p>My main point was that, IMO, we are doing much damage to society by the ad hoc demonization of politicians, civil servants, and anyone not of our own group.</p>
<p>We complain continually about government and others in general but few people seem to be willing to appreciate that there is a significant cost to the accounting/monitoring.</p>
<p>Have not visited Kenya and not likely to do so at my age. I do have an emotional attraction to Kenya out of my youth reading of classic hunting books. Not much connection to reality, I imagine, but developed a love of the concepts.</p> @Brendan - I tend to write Po…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13694572013-08-29T14:04:17.274ZSuzanne Olson-Hydehttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Suzanne
<p>@Brendan - I tend to write Pom or Pomme but when speaking say English or Brit - I use Pom as a term of respect - an Australian can say, usually blokes, if they haven't seen a friend for a while, and he is English, will say "Hey, you old Pomme bastard, where have you been?'. We enjoy our convict heritage - took guts to survive.</p>
<p>Lots of theories where it started. We are friendly rivals, apparently especially in Cricket. Both sides take it very seriously, and rib each other.</p>
<p>Both…</p>
<p>@Brendan - I tend to write Pom or Pomme but when speaking say English or Brit - I use Pom as a term of respect - an Australian can say, usually blokes, if they haven't seen a friend for a while, and he is English, will say "Hey, you old Pomme bastard, where have you been?'. We enjoy our convict heritage - took guts to survive.</p>
<p>Lots of theories where it started. We are friendly rivals, apparently especially in Cricket. Both sides take it very seriously, and rib each other.</p>
<p>Both Aussies and New Zealanders don't take themselves too seriously, and groups of blokes will always rib each other, all in good humour.</p>
<p>The Pommes call us Feral and Bogans, which is quite true. We take the 'Mickey' and have a show called Upper Middle Bogans on air at the moment.</p>
<p>The Pommes have the best comedians and Atheists, the New zealanders have balls, Gay marriage, and won't allow American Nuclear warships into their harbours. At the moment we have the US marines in Darwin.</p>
<p>US army are often here, with the Australian army, running around the bush together.</p>
<p>We are anarchistic and irreverent - the following is The Chaser Boys, on a government channel. They are always getting into trouble, and this is one of their best - a comedy team that got into a spot of bother -</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dW1BxTmMxA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dW1BxTmMxA</a></p> Only 200 feet? No wonder we…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13696212013-08-29T12:02:42.157ZSteveInCOhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/SteveInCO
<p>Only 200 feet? No wonder we have so many damn Californians here fucking this place up via the voting booth. It takes at least 300 feet to reliably wipe them out.</p>
<p>It's probably too late to fix it, the Coloradoans make up a minority of the votes now.</p>
<p>Only 200 feet? No wonder we have so many damn Californians here fucking this place up via the voting booth. It takes at least 300 feet to reliably wipe them out.</p>
<p>It's probably too late to fix it, the Coloradoans make up a minority of the votes now.</p> American legislators don't ha…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13696202013-08-29T11:49:33.002ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>American legislators don't handle tax money directly, but unlike everyone else, they give themselves raises, they pass laws to get many of their expenses paid, they gave themselves world-class free healthcare, and they receive favors from lobbyists in the form of campaign contributions during their time in office as well as promises of lucrative "consultant" jobs awaiting them once their legislative time is over. </p>
<p></p>
<p>American legislators don't handle tax money directly, but unlike everyone else, they give themselves raises, they pass laws to get many of their expenses paid, they gave themselves world-class free healthcare, and they receive favors from lobbyists in the form of campaign contributions during their time in office as well as promises of lucrative "consultant" jobs awaiting them once their legislative time is over. </p>
<p></p> Norm, but you don't live in K…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13694522013-08-29T10:44:35.799Zonyango makagutuhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/onyangomakagutu
<p>Norm, but you don't live in Kenya I suppose? So how would you then know if this is not the case. Everyday we wake up to scandals involving politicians and government officials about abuse of office, embezzlement of funds and since all money is legal tender, it would be hard to say which is tax from cigarettes and which is from PAYE but part of it does end in politicians pockets.</p>
<p>Norm, but you don't live in Kenya I suppose? So how would you then know if this is not the case. Everyday we wake up to scandals involving politicians and government officials about abuse of office, embezzlement of funds and since all money is legal tender, it would be hard to say which is tax from cigarettes and which is from PAYE but part of it does end in politicians pockets.</p> I've often heard, H3, that ps…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13694492013-08-29T07:04:43.341Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>I've often heard, H3, that psychologically speaking, watching the smoke curl is a significant part of the smoking satisfaction. Try breaking up your habit - smoke that one pipe in a windowless room, with the light off, in other words, entirely in the dark. Make it a point to never again smoke where you can see the smoke, and see if that will make a difference in your smoking frequency.</p>
<p>I know, smoking is not a "<em>habit</em>," as many will tell you, it's a full-blown addiction, but…</p>
<p>I've often heard, H3, that psychologically speaking, watching the smoke curl is a significant part of the smoking satisfaction. Try breaking up your habit - smoke that one pipe in a windowless room, with the light off, in other words, entirely in the dark. Make it a point to never again smoke where you can see the smoke, and see if that will make a difference in your smoking frequency.</p>
<p>I know, smoking is not a "<em>habit</em>," as many will tell you, it's a full-blown addiction, but there ARE habits attached to it (I'm working on a book of things to do to quit), such as coffee and a cigarette, an alcoholic or soda-based beverage and a cigarette, after eating, after sex, when starting your car, when you finish a task, etc. You can choose to smoke less if you break these habits up - eg., never have coffee and a cigarette together again, etc.</p>
<p>Just a thought, from a recent ex-smoker.</p> Quitting is easy, according t…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13694462013-08-29T05:12:39.200ZNorm Kellerhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/NormKeller
<p>Quitting is easy, according to an old boss of mine. He claimed to have quit 30 or 40 times.</p>
<p>Not helping, I know....sorry. (VBG)</p>
<p>Quitting is easy, according to an old boss of mine. He claimed to have quit 30 or 40 times.</p>
<p>Not helping, I know....sorry. (VBG)</p> As a smoker, I would wholehea…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13695222013-08-29T05:04:55.642ZH3xxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/H3xx
<p>As a smoker, I would wholeheartedly support a measure that forced me to quit for economic reasons. No use killing a worker without making him work for it. The only reason I started smoking in the first place was I enjoyed watching the smoke. To me it looks like a small cloud of little white dragons, dancing for my amusement. Calms me down and helps me focus on my thoughts. I really can't stand it when a nic fit consumes me, I light my pipe up and start puffing quickly to try and get the…</p>
<p>As a smoker, I would wholeheartedly support a measure that forced me to quit for economic reasons. No use killing a worker without making him work for it. The only reason I started smoking in the first place was I enjoyed watching the smoke. To me it looks like a small cloud of little white dragons, dancing for my amusement. Calms me down and helps me focus on my thoughts. I really can't stand it when a nic fit consumes me, I light my pipe up and start puffing quickly to try and get the nagging urge to subside, usually burning my tongue in the process. One of the reasons I love my ecig. I get my dragons plus a lovely taste of vanilla, without that bothersome dose of Nicotine. I'm down to one pipe bowl a day, and I'm trying to quit entirely.</p>
<p>I might see if I can't design a little something to sit on my desk to periodically shoot a little puff into the air. Wish I had a 3d printer.</p> Wow. Maybe we could trade pla…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13695212013-08-29T04:52:45.205ZH3xxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/H3xx
<p>Wow. Maybe we could trade places. What would an entire atheist country look like I wonder?</p>
<p>Wow. Maybe we could trade places. What would an entire atheist country look like I wonder?</p> I also thought it came from t…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-08-29:1982180:Comment:13694452013-08-29T04:49:42.491ZNorm Kellerhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/NormKeller
<p>I also thought it came from the practice of carrying barrels of apples on ships (particularly Royal Navy) but some quick searches have shown that to be quite out of the running as to theories. Nothing better than finding out one was wrong while retaining one's dignity. (VBG)</p>
<p>Thanks for that!</p>
<p>I also thought it came from the practice of carrying barrels of apples on ships (particularly Royal Navy) but some quick searches have shown that to be quite out of the running as to theories. Nothing better than finding out one was wrong while retaining one's dignity. (VBG)</p>
<p>Thanks for that!</p>